Browse > Home / Travel Guides / How to Get a UK Visitor-s Visa for your Thai Loved-one. How to Get a UK Visitor-s Visa for your Thai Loved-one. March 25, 2009 by Owen Jones   Print It by Owen Jones Applying for a UK visitor-s visa for a Thai friend to go to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland can be very stressful. I am also certain that it is more difficult for people from some countries than for others and Thailand falls into this latter category. This is because the staff are concerned about the applicant-s ability to support him/herself when they originate from a Third World country. This is UK government policy and you must not hold it against the British embassy staff - they are only carrying out orders! It is worth your while remembering this when you speak to the embassy staff about a UK visitor-s visa. Please remember that if you are successful in obtaining a UK visitor-s visa in Bangkok, it is valid for multiple entries into the UK over a period of six months. However, the embassy is loathe to give a UK visitor-s visa to a Thai the first time round as they know that not many Thais could afford to stay there that long without working. So you will be asked to state when you will arrive and when you will leave. You have to sign this note and it will be stapled into your passport. You must aide by this self-inflicted limitation, although your visa is sill nominally good for six months. The visa also expressly forbids the Thai applicant access to any -social benefits- such as social security, health care or pension rights. Be aware that many/most Thai applicants are refused their first attempt, because their submission is "˜half-hearted-. If the stated reason is, say, to visit a friend or lover, the you really need to prove an on-going, long-term relationship of at least six months with your partner. So, how do we provide proof of a "˜continuous long-standing relationship-? well, it-s not that hard if it is true. Keep photos, mementos, hotel bills, bus tickets, ATM receipts, phone cards, letters and such like. Don-t exaggerate how long you have known each other besides the stamps in his passport there are other ways of becoming suspicious too. Do you know the names of any of his family? Do you know what he does for a living or where he lives? Is his father still alive? Get the picture? You must prove to a doubting Thomas that you are having a relationship (of over six months to be safe). They have seen many Thais try it on over the years. Then you can proceed by obtaining the "˜Visa Application Form (VAF) from the British embassy in Wireless Road, Bangkok or from its website. The website is very helpful for advising what you should include with your visa application form, but it will often include the "˜evidence- mentioned above, the passport, the fee, photos, and sponsor-s letter etc. In fact anything that helps you prove your case even a little bit. This where the sponsor plays a pivotal role in getting that first UK visitor-s visa for a Thai. As your sponsor, he has to be prepared to guarantee your well-being while you are in the UK and he will have to prove this to the embassy staff. Your sponsor will have to prove that he has sufficient funds to support you. This can be a letter from his employer or a letter from his bank. If he has offered you accomodation, he must prove that he has somewhere for you to stay. A lease, letter from the mortgage provider or from the council will suffice. Marriage or divorce does not seem to be an issue for rejection, but some seemingly weird things are: "this Thai applicant for a UK visitor-s visa has never been outside the country before " this is an easy one, just pop over to Cambodia for a weekend. "the Thai person applying for this UK visitor-s visa does not have strong socio-economic ties to her country of origin" They don-t believe that you have enough to return to Thailand for. A letter from your boss, doctor, solicitor or village elder, your house book; proof of children or living parents and proof of property are all very useful. Do not be tempted to hurry the application for a UK visitor-s visa. Ensure that you have a "˜valid reason- for wanting to go to the UK and remember it; ensure that you can prove everything that you say. Pretend for the day of the interview for a UK visitor-s visa that you are a lawyer and provide solid, written proof. Make sure you know the answers to questions about your sponsor: about his family, town and work. You will be alone in the embassy, but don-t let that make you nervous. Some questions will be in English, but if you get stuck it-s not a problem, just speak Thai. Advice: if you want to stay in Britain for two weeks apply for four, because you don-t have flights yet and you may be delayed on your return. Also, if you kneed to cancel your visa, don-t fly back on a Friday, because the embasy is closed for the weekend. Please do not be tempted to lie! The embassy staff are trained to weed out liars and they are good at their job. It will cost you your UK visitor-s visa if you are caught out. If you don-t know an answer, just say so.